Has the Choker Trend Gone Too Far?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 16: A model showcases designs on the runway during the Myer Autumn 2017 Fashion Launch on February 16, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Whatever happened to a good old-fashioned way of wearing a choker? The latest experiment with the trend beloved by stars like Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid, Lily-Rose Depp, and Vanessa Hudgens has to do with hair.

Australian department store Myer got creative with chokers during their Fall ‘17 fashion launch rehearsal. Each model who walked in the Morrison segment wore their long straightened hair tucked into a black choker. Either the hair stylist didn’t have the extra second before pushing the models out onto the runway to do the post-choker-application hair-lift, so she just went with it, or they’re testing shoppers in terms of choker styles.

While the trend has made a major comeback since it last popped up in the ’90s, people are officially taking it too far. With this weird, over-the-hair way of wearing it, it begs the question…has the trend reached such a peak that people are failing when trying to elevate it even more?

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 16: A model showcases designs on the runway during the media dress rehearsal ahead of the Myer Autumn 2017 Fashion Launch on February 16, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

First, ASOS launched a “dripping blood” choker that looked a lot more like a pearl necklace. Then, Forever 21 made the mistake of trying to make neck braces cool by selling a choker 4 inches thick with a metal zipper. Next, ASOS, not learning from their choker mistakes, started selling chokers for men, which inspired Matt Lauer to put a damper on the trend by wearing one himself. Then, Kylie Jenner got so attached to the things that she inspired bathing suits with built-in chokers. And now, models are wearing chokers on top of their hair.

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 16: Models showcase designs on the runway during the media dress rehearsal ahead of the Myer Autumn 2017 Fashion Launch on February 16, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

While experimentation when it comes to fashion is usually lauded, this just doesn’t look right. In fact, it looks down right uncomfortable.

The choker was designed to be a simple accessory — an easy addition that creates a bold look — and so many accepted it when people added chains or customized them for hundreds of dollars. But let well enough alone; it might be time for people to stop trying to make the choker something it’s not.